June 4, 2014

More than 280 people in Saudi Arabia are now confirmed to have been killed by the MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) virus, almost 100 more than initially thought, Saudi Arabian health officials announced yesterday. Saudi authorities also revealed there have been 688 confirmed Mers infections in the kingdom. Besides Saudi Arabia, cases of the virus have been confirmed in Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Qatar, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Travelers to and from Saudi Arabia are believed to have spread the virus.

The virus is related to the common cold but can result in pneumonia and kidney failure. Epidemiologists suspect that camels are the main source of infection for humans.

Health officials believe that camels are the main source of the MERS virus. Camel racing remains a popular past time in Saudi Arabia. (Ernst A. Weber, Photo Researchers)

Additional World Book article:

• Public health and safety 2013 (a Back in Time article)